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[Q] Optimal SD Card?

I asked this at the end of another thread, but there was no response, so maybe it was lost/buried. I thought I'd try a new thread.
Is there an optimal SD card for the Shift? I know that with my Nook, class 4 or 6 was actually the best thing you could use. Any data on what works best with the Shift?

flu13 said:
I asked this at the end of another thread, but there was no response, so maybe it was lost/buried. I thought I'd try a new thread.
Is there an optimal SD card for the Shift? I know that with my Nook, class 4 or 6 was actually the best thing you could use. Any data on what works best with the Shift?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SD cards have classes? lol i grabbed the cheapest 16 gig SD card i could find and never in the 9 months of having it did it fail on me

I use class 4 and it works great
Sent from my Supreme Shift

I have a SanDisk 16 Gig class 6. Never had any issue with it.

Your answer is here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220546
Patriot Class 10 16GB Micro SD, $29.99
On ScaryKernel stable with compcache I got the following speeds/scores from Antutu:
sdcard write 9.9MB/s 99
sdcard read 17.5 MB/s 175

Adata 16gb class 10 been working good for me. Also got it on new egg
Sent from your Mom's Jitterbug

VICODAN said:
Your answer is here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220546
Patriot Class 10 16GB Micro SD, $29.99
On ScaryKernel stable with compcache I got the following speeds/scores from Antutu:
sdcard write 9.9MB/s 99
sdcard read 17.5 MB/s 175
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Love their pc ram but the micro sd cards they have out have been problematic.
Sportin Transcends 8gb class 6, works great for me.
Sent from my Shifty Speed Brick using xda premium

fallnSaint said:
Love their pc ram but the micro sd cards they have out have been problematic.
Sportin Transcends 8gb class 6, works great for me.
Sent from my Shifty Speed Brick using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never had any real problems. What problems have you had?
edit: I did have to format one time. Just make sure you format the card LBA turned off and you should be all good.
---------- Post added at 04:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=17717904

No matter which card you get. You can use SD Speed Increase or SD-Booster to increase the speed of the Read/Write of the card.

prboy1969 said:
No matter which card you get. You can use SD Speed Increase or SD-Booster to increase the speed of the Read/Write of the card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't know about these apps, thanks for the info. Will these have any ill effects on my card?
Sent from Gingerbread Speedy 4G

Not a one that I've heard of, or noticed. Have been using one or the other for a while. On several Shifts and on my wife's EVO4G. All different types of Micro SD Cards, from 2 gig on up to a 32gig. Different brands, always see an improvement. One thing I will say. Every phone is different as far as the sweet spot. I use SD Tools to find the best number.

Thanks for all the feedback, guys.
For the record, I use SD speed increase on my Nook and have never had any problems. And I use a class 4 Sandisk in it, because smarter people than me determined it was the best. I stand on the shoulders of giant androids, y'know?

flu13 said:
Thanks for all the feedback, guys.
For the record, I use SD speed increase on my Nook and have never had any problems. And I use a class 4 Sandisk in it, because smarter people than me determined it was the best. I stand on the shoulders of giant androids, y'know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sandisk makes great SD cards. But a class 10 sd card is way faster than any class 4.
Class Speed
Class 2 2 MB/s
Class 4 4 MB/s
Class 6 6 MB/s
Class 10 10 MB/s

prboy1969 said:
No matter which card you get. You can use SD Speed Increase or SD-Booster to increase the speed of the Read/Write of the card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alternatively you can create a script and drop it into the /etc/init.d/ folder containing this:
Code:
echo "2048" > /sys/devices/virtual/bdi/179:0/read_ahead_kb;
It does the same thing as those apps without taking up resources.
crump84 said:
Didn't know about these apps, thanks for the info. Will these have any ill effects on my card?
Sent from Gingerbread Speedy 4G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it just increases the Read Ahead buffer size in Android so data is copied off the sdcard into memory in larger chunks. Constant writing is the only thing that affects the lifespan of a sdcard.

Ron Overdrive said:
Alternatively you can create a script and drop it into the /etc/init.d/ folder containing this:
Code:
echo "2048" > /sys/devices/virtual/bdi/179:0/read_ahead_kb;
It does the same thing as those apps without taking up resources.
No, it just increases the Read Ahead buffer size in Android so data is copied off the sdcard into memory in larger chunks. Constant writing is the only thing that affects the lifespan of a sdcard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is already built in to ScaryKernel and it doesn't make much of a difference.
Differences I noticed with SD card speed:
CPU clock speed/governor
Compcache disabled

A script does use less resources. But the downside is that all devices are different. Because of that some will see a difference with a set script, and some won't. You have to find the specific sweet spot for your individual device. That's where the apps come in handy. They allow you to adjust and test easliy until you get the right number.

VICODAN said:
Never had any real problems. What problems have you had?
edit: I did have to format one time. Just make sure you format the card LBA turned off and you should be all good.
---------- Post added at 04:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:36 PM ----------
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=17717904
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry vicodan, should have clarified, not personal experience. I did a lot of research before upgrading my card & went to Patriot immediately, a lot of bad experiences by other users disuaded me from pulling the trigger.
Thanks for the heads up prboy, will definitely have a look.
Sent from my PG06100 using xda premium

VICODAN said:
Sandisk makes great SD cards. But a class 10 sd card is way faster than any class 4.
Class Speed
Class 2 2 MB/s
Class 4 4 MB/s
Class 6 6 MB/s
Class 10 10 MB/s
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I understand that. But Nook owners/devs have gone to a lot of trouble to test out different classes of SD cards and found the best performance from class 4 or 6. I'm not here to explain it or understand it, I just accept their word. I'll see if I can find a succinct explanation over in the Nook forum.

Ok, too much to pick through. Here is one of the main discussions, with a link to the other.
I just figured that if higher class didn't necessarily equal better performance on one Android device, it was worth asking about the Shift as well.

prboy1969 said:
A script does use less resources. But the downside is that all devices are different. Because of that some will see a difference with a set script, and some won't. You have to find the specific sweet spot for your individual device. That's where the apps come in handy. They allow you to adjust and test easliy until you get the right number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need an app to find the sweet spot though. All you need is Terminal or ADB and that command in the script while root. Just change 2048 to a different number and run your benchmark. Whether you use one of the Apps or the command line method once the sweet spot is found edit the init.d script and save. Next time the device restarts its automatically applied during the boot process before the Launcher is loaded speeding up the Launcher's startup and App Drawer refresh if you install apps to the sdcard.

[Q] Does a higher class SD card improve HD recording?

I know that the optics will not improve but I mean the lagging and what not? I searched and got found different answers. I have a class 2 currently and I wanna get a 6 or maybe a 10 if it will make the videos look smoother and more fluent. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

Videos come out a bit better for me with an 8gb Class 6 SD Card. I'm using CM7
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

I have a class 10, but even before I had the SD card, it was fine. It just saves to the internal.
Maybe if you set the default save location to a lower class SD card, it might be worse.

aceofserenity said:
I have a class 10, but even before I had the SD card, it was fine. It just saves to the internal.
Maybe if you set the default save location to a lower class SD card, it might be worse.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont know what you mean?

Nice price on 64GB micro SDXC!

I cannot post link, but search Amazon:
SanDisk 64GB Mobile Ultra MicroSDXC Class 6 Memory Card with SD Adapter - Retail Packaging
No more switching files because my 32GB card is full!

Does our phone support 64GB modules? I thought 32GB was the max.

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Mobil...WIA2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337960142&sr=8-1

New2my8125 said:
Does our phone support 64GB modules? I thought 32GB was the max.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it doesn't.
Sent from my LG-P999

Partition it?
cricketAC said:
it doesn't.
Sent from my LG-P999
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wonder if you could partition it into 2 32gb partitions to make it work?

cricketAC said:
it doesn't.
Sent from my LG-P999
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It Does. There are a handful (so far) of android phones that will - after reformatting the card. Look it up! The G2x happens to be one of them. I know this because I have been running this card for the last 2 days without a glitch.

Here are some pictures. You lose some memory in the reformatting.

Whoa! you loose about 20GB? that's not worth it eh?
what about that partition? that sounds like a good idea...but could the phone read more that 1 or 2 drives... 1 meaning Internal and 2 the SD...

Major Zero said:
Whoa! you loose about 20GB? that's not worth it eh?
what about that partition? that sounds like a good idea...but could the phone read more that 1 or 2 drives... 1 meaning Internal and 2 the SD...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You only loose 4GB there's 59.36GB Total space. He used the other ~35 GB.

Major Zero said:
Whoa! you loose about 20GB? that's not worth it eh?
what about that partition? that sounds like a good idea...but could the phone read more that 1 or 2 drives... 1 meaning Internal and 2 the SD...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROFL. No it was meant to be 64 GB disk but its showing 59.xx hence 4.xx GB gone with the formatting. The available space is what left in his memory card after he filled it partially.
p.S: Still lmao.
---------- Post added at 11:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:19 PM ----------
quita1 said:
It Does. There are a handful (so far) of android phones that will - after reformatting the card. Look it up! The G2x happens to be one of them. I know this because I have been running this card for the last 2 days without a glitch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going what gsmarena quoted.
Darn i just bought a 32GB sandisk last weekend. Oh well i think 40GB would be enough for me i guess.

Jufjufjuf said:
You only loose 4GB there's 59.36GB Total space. He used the other ~35 GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't "lose" any space. That's how data works.
If you get a 320gb hd, you're only able to use about 95% of the total space.
Go to Google and ask why that happens, it explains it somewhere. Don't just jump to conclusions without first trying to solve/educate why some things are how they are.
Even on the back of some memory cards/hard drives it'll also tell you that you won't be able to use the entire space.

buru898 said:
You don't "lose" any space. That's how data works.
If you get a 320gb hd, you're only able to use about 95% of the total space.
Go to Google and ask why that happens, it explains it somewhere. Don't just jump to conclusions without first trying to solve/educate why some things are how they are.
Even on the back of some memory cards/hard drives it'll also tell you that you won't be able to use the entire space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I second this. A 64GB USB isn't meant to have the amount of 64GB free space
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

buru898 said:
You don't "lose" any space. That's how data works.
If you get a 320gb hd, you're only able to use about 95% of the total space.
Go to Google and ask why that happens, it explains it somewhere. Don't just jump to conclusions without first trying to solve/educate why some things are how they are.
Even on the back of some memory cards/hard drives it'll also tell you that you won't be able to use the entire space.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand how it works, I'd appreciate if you didn't jump to conclusions either.

According to ScanDisk they are listed as a Class 10.
http://www.sandisk.com/products/mob...crosdhc-and-microsdxc-uhs-i-cards-for-android

It's because computers can't devide by 1024 or something like that. I think.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

FatalityBoyZahy said:
It's because computers can't devide by 1024 or something like that. I think.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Computers see 1GB as 1024mb
Humans see 1GB as 1000mb
When they market their card as 64GB they do it the human version (64000mb)
When your computer sees it, it counts a GB as 1024mb, so obviously it wont end up being 64GB counting that way.
Hope that helps

You actually do get the full 64gb...if you paid attention enough. But it's a matter of the discrepancy between binary numbering and decimal numbering schemes used.
If you do a right click and hit "properties" of your hard drives (where you see the pie chart), and look under "capacity", you'll see a value that hits what you're looking for, if not close. Be it 64gb or 320gb.
My laptop drive is 120GB and shows: 119787220992 bytes (read, 119 billion, just a hair below 120), for a capacity of 111GB. You're not losing 9gb, it's just information being represented differently.

I didn't know we could use 64 GB cards... are there any drawbacks?

Karala said:
I didn't know we could use 64 GB cards... are there any drawbacks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I switched from a 32GB Pny class 10 to this 64GB Sandisk card. I don't see any difference in performance or speed. I use my G2x to stream audio files to my bluetooth headphones all day at work. I have watched a full length movie, taken and watched other videos with my phone during this week. I dont see any drawbacks at all. It took a long time to transfer 29GB from my old card to the new, but this is understandable and normal

I bought this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007WTAJTO and my G2X refused to mount it. not even in recovery.

SD card classes.

Why is a higher SD card class no better?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using XDA

DLittle2012 said:
Why is a higher SD card class no better?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, actually it is better. the SD card class resembles how fast it can Read/Write data. the higher, the quicker...and the more expensive

Thanks.I know I'm a stupid ****er.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using XDA

DLittle2012 said:
Thanks.I know I'm a stupid ****er.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what? nah you're not man, don't be hard on yourself!!
i didn't know many answers before as well

DLittle2012 said:
Thanks.I know I'm a stupid ****er.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No your not
Everyone has to learn. Look how much you learned already!
Sent from my Sensation 4G using xda premium

Not totally true. From what I've read, higher class SDs, such as class 10s, gain that additional speed at the cost of random access speed. Random access speed is the speed at which the card can load a particular file such as a song or photo.
That can potentially cause delays in playing music, among other things.

sshede said:
Not totally true. From what I've read, higher class SDs, such as class 10s, gain that additional speed at the cost of random access speed. Random access speed is the speed at which the card can load a particular file such as a song or photo.
That can potentially cause delays in playing music, among other things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yup
heard its best to have a good class 6 sdcard for android devices
(a real class 6, not just labeled class 6 but works like a class 2)

sshede said:
Not totally true. From what I've read, higher class SDs, such as class 10s, gain that additional speed at the cost of random access speed. Random access speed is the speed at which the card can load a particular file such as a song or photo.
That can potentially cause delays in playing music, among other things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good advice man
I use class 4 and it makes my sensation fly. I'm pretty satisfied with it.

DLittle2012 said:
Why is a higher SD card class no better?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SD Card classes denote the minimum speed at which data is written to the SD Card. For example, you can transfer a file prom your PC to a class 4 SD Card at a minimum speed of 4 MB/s (24 Mbit/S) under optimum conditions.
The speed at which data is read from the SD Card is dependent on the device, so in effect, all classes of SD Cards are the same for your device unless substantial amount of data is being written onto the SD Card.

kgs1992 said:
SD Card classes denote the minimum speed at which data is written to the SD Card. For example, you can transfer a file prom your PC to a class 4 SD Card at a minimum speed of 4 MB/s (24 Mbit/S) under optimum conditions.
The speed at which data is read from the SD Card is dependent on the device, so in effect, all classes of SD Cards are the same for your device unless substantial amount of data is being written onto the SD Card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you mean maximum, dont you?

DonDizzurp said:
you mean maximum, dont you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Minimum. Look it up if you like. Maximum was the old grading system.

Hi I'm using a class 4. It seems great! I just got it. I traded out my old 16 for a new 16, they fill up fast.I like san disk they seem pretty good.
I always use that brand.I've never had trouble with that brand. Be cautious when purchasing because some brands can be a rip off .but it's a class 4. Works great for me. Hope this helps you out.
Sent from my Sensation 4G using xda premium

[q] ramexpander

I recently installed ramexpander on my phone, in starting it said my SD card read write speed is 9 mb/sec gradually wen I created my 6th or 7th time swap it said my SD card read write speed is 3 mob/sec ..
Is it damaging my SD card?

anu.cool said:
I recently installed ramexpander on my phone, in starting it said my SD card read write speed is 9 mb/sec gradually wen I created my 6th or 7th time swap it said my SD card read write speed is 3 mob/sec ..
Is it damaging my SD card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Afaik swap reduces or hampers the quality and speed of Sd card. I dont think its the app. Because I had read swapping is not good for Sd cards.

AFAIK - a fake?

Stock ROM or Cusrom? some cusrom maybe unsupported...
i have installed in CM10.1 and work smooth with class10 of sd card. i don't think swapping could be damage sd card, but maybe reduce the lifespan.
i dunno high class of sd have some fitures too..
hm...swapping make battery quickly drains, though

anu.cool said:
AFAIK - a fake?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its As far as I know. :good:
+1 for Adnin's post.
It also depends on your sd card class. Class 4,6,8,10. 10 being the best.

Adnin said:
Stock ROM or Cusrom? some cusrom maybe unsupported...
i have installed in CM10.1 and work smooth with class10 of sd card. i don't think swapping could be damage sd card, but maybe reduce the lifespan.
i dunno high class of sd have some fitures too..
hm...swapping make battery quickly drains, though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rohit02 said:
Its As far as I know. :good:
+1 for Adnin's post.
It also depends on your sd card class. Class 4,6,8,10. 10 being the best.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swapit.expander.de&hl=en
Its the one I m talking abt
I'm the first swap it said SD card read\write speed is 9mb/s
At fourth one it said speed is 3mb/sec
I m not sure abt ad card class
When I purchased it , the seller said its a class 10 card tho I rarely felt it is of class 10 ...
I m on cm10.1 by erickas ...
Is there a way to check SD card speed so that I can confirm my card is still okay?

anu.cool said:
Is there a way to check SD card speed so that I can confirm my card is still okay?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try Antutu benchmark app.it tells your SDCard read and write speed.

ehsan-black said:
try Antutu benchmark app.it tells your SDCard read and write speed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
k thanks, i will try it tmr ...

anu.cool said:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.swapit.expander.de&hl=en
Its the one I m talking abt
I'm the first swap it said SD card read\write speed is 9mb/s
At fourth one it said speed is 3mb/sec
I m not sure abt ad card class
When I purchased it , the seller said its a class 10 card tho I rarely felt it is of class 10 ...
I m on cm10.1 by erickas ...
Is there a way to check SD card speed so that I can confirm my card is still okay?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
some seller only big mouth about high class
be carefull, bro..

Ramexpander it saves ram and battery.
But phone starts lagging sometimes.
Sent from my GT-I9070 using xda app-developers app

Phone will work fast with class 10 sd card, also called HD card

Expand RAM!!!
I too read that as time passes it will degrade your sd card..and its true i experienced it,my 16gb class 4 is still in service center, its like a gamble.. dont use ram expander for too long..instead try changing cpu governers and diff. settings...for heavy applications like Firefox it sure helps,,but dont use for too long....

I've 512mb sd-ext partition. I hope that it shouldn't degrade my class 10 SD card(32GB):sly:

usbfreak said:
Phone will work fast with class 10 sd card, also called HD card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dnt think so, class 10 or class 4, it will degrade with time if u overuse it, or if u use too much swap memory
My class 10 memory card died in less than a week, was using it as swap memory 24 X 7 ..
mni ANKIT said:
I too read that as time passes it will degrade your sd card..and its true i experienced it,my 16gb class 4 is still in service center, its like a gamble.. dont use ram expander for too long..instead try changing cpu governers and diff. settings...for heavy applications like Firefox it sure helps,,but dont use for too long....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dnt think apps like firefox will ever run on device like fit properly, since i use a s4 too, being too much difference, fir now looks like a spice company try to compete with apple
Galaxy_Rohit said:
I've 512mb sd-ext partition. I hope that it shouldn't degrade my class 10 SD card(32GB):sly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
heard ppl saying if u use a sd card higher than 8gb it will make ur device lagg, even if u r using a class 10 memory card, dunno tho, dnt hv any experience on this thing yet ...

Galaxy_Rohit said:
I've 512mb sd-ext partition. I hope that it shouldn't degrade my class 10 SD card(32GB):sly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i used 1 GB SD-Ext for a month and my Class10 (8GB) sdcard is now dead!!
you can use this advice instead (thanks to darkpassenger it worked for me like a charm! ):
Dark Passenger said:
PS a word of advice odex the rom and move apps to sd(native solution).It will allow the apps to perform the best(better than all app2sd scripts I swear!) and the space is still plenty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

ehsan-black said:
i used 1 GB SD-Ext for a month and my Class10 (8GB) sdcard is now dead!!
you can use this advice instead (thanks to darkpassenger it worked for me like a charm! ):
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will try this it seems to be a good piece of info...thnx